Andy Murray: Why I enjoy the pressure and nerves of Wimbledon

Andy Murray in action during his straight-sets win over the Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut at Wimbledon. Photograph: Graeme Robertson for the Guardian

Andy Murray owns Wimbledon and he sent out a strong message that it will take a big effort from one of his rivals to take the title away from him as they enter the second week of the 2014 championships.

He said he was not the ingénu of years ago, when he was intimidated by the pressure of being an unproven prodigy and carrying the hopes of a nation on his young shoulders.

After his third straight quick win – in a tick over an hour-and-a-half, to beat the very good Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in the third round on Centre Court last night – the defending champion said that following years of introspection he is finally “a grown-up” at the game’s most revered tournament.

He expanded on why he feels more comfortable here than anywhere else on the tennis circuit. He plays the South African Kevin Anderson in the fourth round on Monday.

“I’m in familiar surroundings,” Murray said. “That’s going to make you feel more comfortable. Just being at home, staying in your own bed, having all of your friends and family around you, you’re going to feel more relaxed away from the court.

“The nerves and the pressure here is also different to other tournaments for me. It’s probably greater here than it is at the other grand slams. But I enjoy pressure. I like feeling nervous. I’m not scared of that feeling.

“I felt like I played my best tennis when I’ve been under pressure. I love playing here.”

Asked what had changed since his debut as a teenager in 2005, he said: “Obviously I had a few problems with the media. It became hard for me. I didn’t feel like I was represented fairly. I went into my shell. I didn’t feel like I could express myself at all. I became very defensive because I felt like I was getting criticised about not just my tennis but my hair, the way I looked, what I was saying.

“It was a tough few years for me because my jump came quite quickly from being 350 in the world to playing in the slams and being in press conferences with a lot of people and stuff. It was a quick transition and I had a few problems in that early part of my career.

“Then, once I started to grow up and understand how everything worked, I was able to handle things much better as I got older. I’ve had good people around me as well, who have helped me through tough moments and given me good advice when I’ve needed it.

“Now I feel like I’m a grown-up, so I can handle myself fine now.”

Meanwhile, Tomas Berdych, the No6 seed, was fuming after losing in the dark, in the latest ever match at Wimbledon, 9.39pm, to the No26 seed, Marin Cilic. He said the umpire told him it was so dark HawkEye was not working – but they continued playing until Cilic won 7-6, 6-4, 7-6.

“How was it possible?” Berdych asked. “This question doesn’t go straight to me. It should go somewhere else and not to me only. I lost all the will to talk [to a linesman he disagreed with] anymore.

“I saw so many mistakes from him. I ask [the referee] three times to change the guy. Then the end of the match basically there was a third call, and I looked at the line – and there was the same guy. He just put him on another line.

“I didn’t even have the energy to talk to him when we should stop, because at 5-4 or 4-3, he just told me, ‘Well, the HawkEye doesn’t work because it’s too dark.’”

That has to be one of the most bizarre exits in the history of Wimbledon.